Dress-waist



No. M63544. Patented Dec. 27, I898.

E. K., WARREN.

DRESS WAIST.

(Application filed Tune 15, 1897.) (No Model'.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

Inventor.

Atto rney.

no. s|s,s44. Patented-bee. 27, I898.

- E. K. WARREN.

DRESS WAIST. (Application filed June 15, 1697.) (No Modal.) 2 {Shuts-sheaf 2.

Witriesse& Inventor.

"@dTW Atto rney.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

EDWARD KIRK WARREN, or THREE oAKs', MICHIGAN:

DRESS-WAIST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,644, dated December 2%, was. Application filed J'une 15,1897. Serial No. 640,904. (No model.)

dress-waists or similar garments for women.

As heretofore constructed where a waist has been properly stiffened atthe seams to conform to the body of the wearer and the stiffeners or stays have been extended to the bottom of the waist the material between the stiffening would loop up in an irregular line, like a scallop, between the points of attachment of the stiffeners, and also, owing to the fact that the stifieners or stays were not properly secured, wrinkles would form in the garment above the same.

The objects of this invention are, first, to provide a construction of dress-waist which shall conform to the body of the wearer and which shall be so supported and stifiened that it shall preserve the lines and curves laid out at the time of its construction; sec- 0nd, to provide an improved construction of Waist in which the stiffeners or stays are so controlled that their position does not vary from slight strain put upon them, consequently retaining the material of the waist in perfect form, so that it will keep its shape after long-continued use,thus making the material thereof, which consequently receives much less strain, last the longer; third, to provide a means of properly retaining the bottom of a waist smooth and preventing a stretching or expansion of the material there of, which it has been impossible to practically prevent heretofore, owing to the necessity of using material on the bias to properly stiffen the same that. would expand with the material and prevent wrinkles.

Further objects will definitely appear inembodying the features of my invention. Fig. 2 is an interior view of the same, showing the position and relation of the stiffeners and stays, a portion of the facing being cut away and thrown open to show the relation of the parts to each other. larged detail sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the relation of the various stifieners to the garment. Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. 2 of a slightly-modified construction.

In the drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawing, A represents a waist which is or may be of the usual form of close-fitting waists, or waist-lining, for that matter. Secured t0 the seam thereof are suitable stays or stifieners, preferably feather-bone, which is made from the quils of feathers, substantially according to the description contained in my Patent No. 311,621, issued February 3,1885, and attached to the seam by substantially the same method as that shown in my Patent No. 327,656, issued October 6, 1885.

One of the stays or stiffeners Ois extended from the bottom of the waist to the armhole and is of sufficient stiffness to prevent any wrinkling between the bottom of the waist and the armhole. The stiffener is placed in the Waist-body before the sleeve is sewed in and the upper end of it is stretched into the seam. The remaining stay or stiffeners D Fig. 3 is an en are of lesserlength, to suit the convenience or desire of the wearer.

Across the bottom edge of the waist and lower ends of stilfeners D D and O is securely stitched atransverse stiffener-B. This holds all vertical stiffeners in substantially a fixed relation to each other, so that the strain put upon any one of them is distributed to the others and does not unduly strain any part of the fabric of the garment, thus preserving the fit of the same.

The resilient stiffener B is of sufficient stiffness to prevent the material of the garment from sagging away from the points or lower ends of the stiffeners or stays D, and consequently preserves the contour of the same at these points, and, as I have heretofore intimated, by being attached to all of the stays the stays themselves are held in the correct position, so that the waist retains its exact form at all times and cannot be subjected to severe local strain, and also will preserve the garment in its original artistic shape when it is so produced, thus adding to its beauty as well as to its durability.

The stiffener B at the bottom is first stitched to the lower edge of the waist and folded in, forming a smooth hem without the stitching appearing on the outside. The stays O and D D are then ripped off a little way from the bottom and the uncovered edge of the stiffener placed under the same. The stays are then securely stitched to the stiffener and hold it in place. (See Fig. 3.) This forms a smooth and fiat exterior, which will keep its shape indefinitely.

In Fig. 4 I show the stays secured to the outside of the stiffener. In this construction the ends of the stays form slight projections that are exposed to wear. All of the advantages of the support are, however, secured.

I desire to state in this connection that the improved construction is available in those garments which do not have a stay extending entirely to the armhole. The cross-stiffener at the bottom properly conforms to the edge when secured to the stays I), no matter to what height they extend, and preserves the contour and figure of the garment until it is worn out. The stay 0, extending to the armhole from the bottom of the Waist, however, possesses great merit in keeping the garment in shape and is superior to any other arrangement.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A dress-waist with stifieners secured to the seams thereof and extending to the bottom, a broad stiffening-band extending transversely and secured to the vertical stays along the bottom edge of the garment from the hip portion forwardly and downwardly to the front and rearwardly and downwardly at the back, said stiffening conforming to the waistcurves of the body, for the purpose specified.

2. A waist, constructed with stiffeners or dress-stays secured to the seams thereof and extending from the bottom up, one of which extends to the armhole and a transverse stiffener secu red to the bottom of the waist and extending from the side portion downwardly and forwardly and downwardly and rearwardly conforming to the outlines of the body and secured to the lower ends of said vertical stiffeners, for the purpose specified.

3. A waist constructed with stiffeners or dress-stays secured to the seams thereof extending from the bottom up, a transverse stiffener attached to the bottom of said waist and folded under to conceal the seam and exhand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD KIRK WARREN. [L. s]

Witnesses:

WM. 0. HALL,

MARY A. DAVIDSON. 

